If you’ve ever followed the Eucharistic Prayer closely, you may have wondered: At what exact moment does the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ? Is it when the priest extends his hands over the gifts? When he elevates the Host? Or at the final “Through Him, with Him, in Him”?

On The Patrick Madrid Show, a caller named Brian asked that very question.

Patrick explained that the consecration is one unified liturgical action. It begins with the epiclesis, when the priest extends his hands over the bread and wine and calls down the Holy Spirit upon the gifts. But the specific moment of transubstantiation occurs when the priest speaks the words of Christ.

When the priest says "Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you", at that moment, the miracle of transubstantiation takes place.

Moments later, when the priest says over the chalice, “This is the chalice of my blood,” the wine becomes the Precious Blood of Christ. These are distinct moments, separated by seconds, yet part of one single sacred action.

Brian’s second question went even deeper: When did transubstantiation first occur? At Pentecost or at the Last Supper?

Patrick was clear: “Definitely at the Last Supper. Definitely.”

Jesus did not say, “This symbolizes my body,” or “This will become my body.” He said, “This is my body… This is my blood.” Patrick even cited St. Augustine, who wrote that at the Last Supper, Christ “was holding his own body in his own hands.” The reality of His sacrifice was made present even before the Crucifixion unfolded in time.

It’s a mystery that should leave us in awe. At every Mass, that same sacrifice becomes present again — not repeated, but re-presented — through the words of Christ spoken by His priest.

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